April 30, 2016

The Philadelphia Stars had a 7-1 record in the inaugural
United States Football League season and faced a rematch on April 30, 1983 with
the one team that had beaten them thus far, the Tampa Bay Bandits. Coached by
Jim Mora, the Stars featured a ball-control offense led by QB Chuck Fusina and
star rookie RB Kelvin Bryant as well as a tough and opportunistic defense. They
survived a close call against the Boston Breakers the previous week that
provided them with a two-game cushion in the Atlantic Division.

Tampa Bay had won its first four games before losing two
of three and was at 6-2 and trying to hold off the Chicago Blitz in the Central
Division. Under the guidance of Head Coach Steve Spurrier, the Bandits had a
strong passing attack and while they had lost veteran QB John Reaves to a
broken wrist, young backup QB Jimmy Jordan out of Florida State was performing
well in his place.

There were 41,559 fans in attendance at Tampa Stadium for
the Saturday contest. The Stars set the tone on their first possession, driving
77 yards in 11 plays. RB Allen Harvin had a 10-yard carry and Kelvin Bryant ran
the last 10 for a touchdown, with David Trout adding the extra point for the
early 7-0 advantage.

Still in the opening period, a fumble by Tampa Bay RB Sam
Platt after a nine-yard gain on a reverse was recovered by SS Scott Woerner.
Four plays later, the Stars added three points with a 44-yard Trout field goal.

Early in the second quarter, the Bandits got on the board
as the result of an eight-play, 52-yard series that featured a pass from Jimmy
Jordan to WR Eric Truvillion for a 33-yard gain. It was Jordan to Truvillion
again for a two-yard TD to finish the possession off and Zenon Andrusyshyn
converted to make it a three-point game.

The home team had an opportunity to tie the score with
1:28 remaining in the first half, but Andrusyshyn was wide to the left on a
37-yard field goal attempt. The Stars remained ahead by 10-7 at halftime.

Philadelphia started off the third quarter with a
methodical drive, mixing runs and passes. Facing second-and-ten at the Tampa
Bay 20, Harvin took off on a sweep to the right for a touchdown. Trout added
the point after and the visitors were now up by 17-7. The Bandits responded
with a series that resulted in a 25-yard Andrusyshyn field goal to make it a
seven-point contest.

Tampa Bay had largely controlled Bryant in the first
half, but on the ensuing Philadelphia possession the star rookie took charge as
he broke away for a 22-yard carry to the Tampa Bay nine, gained six yards on
the next play, and finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 2:35
remaining in the third quarter. Trout again converted to extend the visitors’
lead to 14 points.

The Bandits had opportunities in the fourth quarter, but
failed to capitalize. A poor 27-yard punt by Philadelphia’s Sean Landeta from
his own end zone gave Tampa Bay the ball at the Stars’ 39. But on a third down
play, a Jordan pass was intercepted by CB Antonio Gibson to snuff out the
threat. It proved to be all the Stars needed as they won convincingly by a
final score of 24-10.

Philadelphia had the edge in total yards (332 to 321),
almost evenly split between rushing (175) and passing (157) yards, while the
Bandits were held to 69 yards on the ground while gaining 252 through the air.
The Stars also led in first downs (20 to 16) and time of possession (32:44 to
27:16). Tampa Bay accumulated six sacks, to just one by Philadelphia, but also
turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by the visitors.

Chuck Fusina completed 17 of 28 passes for 232 yards and
gave up one interception. Kelvin Bryant rushed for 106 yards on 22 carries that
included two touchdowns and also had four catches for 21 yards while Allen
Harvin contributed 67 yards on 9 rushing attempts that also included a TD. WR
Willie Collier led the Philadelphia receivers with five catches for 73 yards.

For the Bandits, Jimmy Jordan was successful on 24 of 47
throws for 260 yards and a touchdown, but also was intercepted three times. Eric
Truvillion and Sam Platt had seven catches apiece, for 81 and 56 yards,
respectively, and Truvillion scored a TD while Platt also led the club in
rushing with 46 yards on 10 attempts.

“Philadelphia played well,” said a frustrated Coach Steve
Spurrier,” but we hurt ourselves a lot. We were just a little bit away from
making the big plays.”

The Stars continued to play well and cruised to a 15-3
record, reaching the USFL Championship game before falling to the Michigan
Panthers. Tampa Bay won its next three games but collapsed down the stretch and
ended up at 11-7, third in the Central Division and out of the playoffs.

The win over the Bandits was the sixth hundred-yard
rushing game for Kelvin Bryant, who led the USFL at that point with 929 yards,
and in the end he was second to New Jersey’s Herschel Walker with 1442 yards,
scoring 16 touchdowns along the way. He also caught 53 passes for another 410
yards and a score and received MVP honors from the league.

April 28, 2016

Boyd was a
versatile athlete in college (track & field and boxing as well as football)
and was the NCAA champion in the 100-yard dash as a senior. Undrafted by the
NFL, he signed with the Rams in 1950 and was a backup among a talented group of
receivers during his first two seasons, catching a total of 18 passes for 348
yards (19.3 avg.) and five touchdowns. After missing the ’52 season due to
military service, Boyd broke out in 1953 with 24 pass receptions for 548 yards
and a league-leading 22.8 yards per catch.

Rams went 6-5-1
to finish fourth in the NFL Western Conference while leading the league in
total yards (5187).

Aftermath:

Boyd’s
production dropped in 1955 as he missed five games with a knee injury, ending
up with just 22 catches for 383 yards (17.4 avg.) and three touchdowns. He
played two more seasons, grabbing 30 passes for 586 yards (19.5 avg.) and 7 TDs
in ’56 and 29 for 534 yards (18.4 avg.) in 1957. Overall, Boyd caught 176
passes for 3611 yards (20.5 avg.) and 28 touchdowns over the course of seven
seasons and 79 games, all with the Rams. Noteworthy for the speed he brought to
LA’s passing attack, the 1954 season was the only one in which Boyd received
All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:

April 26, 2016

A trade that had been widely rumored was finalized on the
afternoon of April 26, 1985 as the Washington Redskins dealt their first pick
in the upcoming NFL draft to New Orleans for RB George Rogers plus the Saints’
fifth, tenth, and eleventh-round draft choices.

The 26-year-old, power-running Rogers had won the 1980
Heisman Trophy while at South Carolina. Chosen in the first round of the ’81
NFL draft by the Saints, he had a big rookie season, rushing for a league-leading
1674 yards with 13 touchdowns. The 6’2”, 225-pound Rogers was a consensus
first-team All-NFL choice and was named to the Pro Bowl, an honor he received
again in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he rushed for 535 yards in six
games and the Saints contended for a playoff spot.

However, there were off-field drug problems and Rogers
was further hampered by a knee injury in ’83. He still ran for 1144 yards in 13
games but, in 1984, found competition from newly-acquired RB Earl Campbell, who
was obtained from the Houston Oilers and reunited with Bum Phillips, once head
coach in Houston and now in New Orleans. Rogers’ rushing total fell to 914
yards and he scored only two touchdowns. After four seasons and 4267 rushing
yards, the Saints were willing to swing the trade with Washington (and would
find that the once-great Campbell was at the end of his Hall of Fame career).

The Redskins were still a fundamentally sound team under
Head Coach Joe Gibbs, having won back-to-back NFC Championships in 1982 and
’83, with the former resulting in a Super Bowl victory, and topped the NFC East
with an 11-5 record in 1984 before succumbing to the Bears in the Divisional
playoff round.

However, Washington’s once-formidable ground game had
become a source of concern due to uncertainty surrounding star RB John Riggins,
who rushed for 1239 yards but was 35 years old and hindered by a back injury,
and Joe Washington, who was 31 and missed nine games with a knee injury (and
was separately traded to Atlanta for draft choices).

Riggins returned to the club for the 1985 season, but it
was Rogers carrying most of the rushing load. He accumulated four hundred-yard performances,
capping the year with 206 yards on 34 attempts in a win against the Cardinals.
Overall, he gained 1093 yards on 231 carries, for a career-best 4.7-yard
average, and scored seven touchdowns. Riggins contributed 677 yards and Keith
Griffin, handling the third-down role that had been Joe Washington’s specialty,
gained 473 rushing yards and caught 37 passes for 285 more (Rogers and Riggins
had ten catches between them). The team went 10-6, but while the Cowboys and
Giants did likewise, tiebreakers put Washington third in the NFC East and out
of the playoffs.

With Riggins retired in 1986, Rogers carried 303 times
for 1203 yards (4.0 avg.) and a league-leading 18 touchdowns. The Redskins
grabbed a Wild Card slot with their 12-4 record and, in his first opportunity
to appear in the postseason, Rogers added another 202 yards on the ground, but
while that included 115 yards on 29 carries in a first round win over the Rams,
he was held to 15 yards on nine attempts in the NFC Championship loss to the
Giants.

Rogers spent an injury-plagued 1987 season running for
613 yards in 11 games and saw limited action in the Super Bowl victory over
Denver in which RB Timmy Smith, a little-used reserve during the regular
season, gained 204 yards on 22 carries. It was the end of the line for Rogers
at age 29. He retired, citing nagging injuries. Overall for his three seasons
with the Redskins, he ran the ball 697 times for 2909 yards (4.2 avg.) and
scored 31 touchdowns. Rarely used as a pass receiver, he had 11 catches for 76
yards.

As for the rest of the transaction involving Rogers, the
1985 draft choices that Washington received were used to take RB Raphael Cherry
from Hawaii in the fifth round, Texas RB Terry Orr in the tenth, and G Raleigh
McKenzie of Tennessee in the eleventh. Cherry was converted to strong safety,
started five games as a rookie when veteran Tony Peters was injured, and
intercepted two passes in his only season with the Redskins. Orr was on injured
reserve and thus saw no action in ’85 but, utilized at tight end, spent most of
the next eight years with Washington and caught 52 passes. McKenzie didn’t
contribute much in his first year but he ended up staying with the Redskins
until 1994 and started a total of 113 games at both left and right guard as
well as center. He moved on to the Eagles in ’95 and finished his career with
Green Bay in 2000.

With the first round pick obtained from Washington, which
was 24th overall, the Saints selected Tennessee LB Alvin Toles. He
spent four seasons with the club, primarily as a reserve among a strong corps
of linebackers, and his career was cut short by a serious knee injury during
the 1988 season.

April 25, 2016

A four-year
starter in college, Brown was chosen by the Steelers in the second round of the
1993 NFL draft. He moved into the starting lineup at inside linebacker due to
an injury to Jerry Olsavsky and, while a raw talent, performed ably with three
sacks, two forced fumbles, and 69 tackles. Brown excelled in 1994 as part of an
outstanding linebacker corps, compiling 8.5 sacks and 90 tackles, and was used
as a rushing defensive end on passing downs. He missed six games due to
injuries in ’95. After three years, Brown totaled 17 sacks and 218 tackles.

Steelers went
10-6 to finish first in the AFC Central while leading the conference in sacks
(51), fewest total yards allowed (4362), fewest passing yards allowed (2947),
and fewest points allowed (257). Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Indianapolis
Colts (42-14). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to New England Patriots (28-3).

Aftermath:

Brown
departed the Steelers for Seattle as a free agent in 1997. Playing at right OLB
in a 4-3 scheme, he led the Seahawks with 104 tackles while also registering
6.5 sacks and scoring two touchdowns among his four fumble recoveries. Brown
was credited with a career-high 149 tackles in ’98, receiving consensus
first-team All-NFL honors and garnering the first of two consecutive Pro Bowl
selections. He spent a total of eight seasons with Seattle, continuing to be a
fine playmaker if also showing signs of wear. He left the Seahawks after the
2004 season and, in his last three years, played for the Patriots twice with a
return to Pittsburgh in between. Overall, over the course of 15 seasons and 188
games, Brown compiled six interceptions, 15 fumble recoveries, three of which
were returned for TDs, 79 sacks, and over a thousand tackles. He received consensus
first-team All-NFL honors twice and was chosen to three Pro Bowls.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:

April 24, 2016

A quarterback
in high school, Carmichael shifted to wide receiver in college. With concerns
about his tall but lean frame being able to hold up in pro football, he was
chosen by the Eagles in the seventh round of the 1971 NFL draft and spent the
first two years of his career being tried at tight end as well as wide receiver
and missing time due to injuries. He caught a total of 40 passes in 1971 and
’72 for 564 yards and two touchdowns. With WR Harold Jackson traded to the Rams
for QB Roman Gabriel, and new Head Coach Mike McCormack committing to
Carmichael at the open wide receiver slot, he broke out in ’73. In combination
with 6’3” WR Don Zimmerman and 6’4” TE Charle Young, he became the tallest
member of the “Fire High Gang”.

1973 Season Summary

Appeared in all
14 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 67
[1]

Most
receptions, game – 12 (for 187 yds.) at St. Louis 10/14

Yards – 1116
[1]

Most yards,
game – 187 (on 12 catches) at St. Louis 10/14

Average gain
– 16.7 [14]

TDs – 9 [4,
tied with Isaac Curtis]

100-yard
receiving games – 5

Rushing

Attempts – 3

Yards – 42

Average gain
– 14.0

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 9 [10,
tied with four others]

Points – 54

Awards & Honors:

1st
team All-NFL: PFWA, Pro Football Weekly

2nd
team All-NFL: AP, NEA

1st
team All-NFC: AP, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Eagles went 5-8-1
to finish third in the NFC East while leading the NFL in passing yards (2998).

Aftermath:

Carmichael’s
pass reception and yardage totals in 1973 remained his career highs, but he continued
to be a key element in Philadelphia’s offense for another ten seasons. Lacking
speed, Carmichael used his height and dependable hands to good advantage, and
was difficult to bring down in the open field. He caught 56 passes for 649
yards and eight touchdowns in ’74, garnering second-team All-NFC recognition
from UPI. After three seasons of less than 50 catches with a club that
struggled on offense, Carmichael had 55 receptions for 1072 yards (averaging a
career-best 19.5 yards) and 8 TDs in 1978, the first of two consecutive years
in which he received first-team All-NFC honors and three straight in which he
was chosen to the Pro Bowl. He had a career-high 11 scoring receptions in ’79,
the same year in which he broke the record for consecutive games with pass
receptions, a streak that eventually reached 127 and served as a testament to
his durability as well as reliability. Carmichael departed the Eagles after the
1983 season holding club records with 589 catches, 8978 receiving yards, and 79
touchdowns. He appeared in two games with Dallas in 1984, his last season, and
caught one pass for seven yards to top out his career total at 590, which
ranked fifth in NFL history at the time. Carmichael received first-team All-NFL
recognition once, first- or second-team All-NFC honors after five other
seasons, and was chosen to four Pro Bowls.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:

April 21, 2016

The versatile
Brown was utilized primarily as a flanker in college and also as a runner from
scrimmage and kick returner. He ended up as Notre Dame’s all-time pass
receiving yardage leader (2493 on 137 catches), returned six kicks (three punts
and three kickoffs) for touchdowns, and won the 1987 Heisman Trophy as well as
receiving consensus All-American honors. Brown was chosen by the Raiders in the
first round of the 1988 NFL draft (sixth overall) and had an impact both as a
pass receiver and kick returner.

Brown’s 1989
season ended with torn knee ligaments in the opening game and he was slow to
come back, following up with a mediocre year in ’90. He began to return to form
in 1991 and ’92, catching 36 and 49 passes, respectively, before breaking out
with 80 receptions for 1180 yards and seven TDs in 1993. It was the first of
seven straight seasons in which he had at least 80 catches and nine consecutive
thousand-yard receiving totals, with highs of 104 receptions and 1408 yards in
1997. While lacking his former speed, Brown remained a dangerous runner after
the catch. He stayed with the Raiders, who returned to Oakland in 1995, through
the 2003 season, a total of 16 years, and caught 1070 passes for 14,734 yards and
99 touchdowns, all franchise records, as well as his 104 total TDs. He finished
up with Tampa Bay in 2004, bringing his career totals to 1094 pass receptions,
which ranked third in NFL history at the time, for a second-ranked 14,934 yards
and 100 TDs. He added another 45 catches for 581 yards and three TDs in 12
postseason games. As a kick returner, he averaged 25.2 yards on 49 kickoff
returns with one TD and 10.2 yards on 326 punt returns, scoring three
touchdowns. In all, he compiled 19,682 all-purpose yards, the league’s fifth
highest total at the time. Brown received consensus first-team All-NFL honors
once, at least some first-team recognition after one other season, was first- or
second-team All-AFC seven times, and was selected to nine Pro Bowls. He was inducted
into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2015.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:

April 19, 2016

On April 19, 2004 the New England Patriots obtained
accomplished but discontented RB Corey Dillon from the Cincinnati Bengals. To
do so they traded a second-round draft pick to Cincinnati that had previously been
obtained from Miami (the Bengals used it to select Maryland FS Madieu Williams,
who moved into the starting lineup as a rookie but had problems with injuries
during his four years with the club).

The 29-year-old Dillon (he turned 30 during the 2004
season) was Cincinnati’s all-time rushing leader, having gained 8061 yards over
the course of seven seasons, and was selected to the Pro Bowl three times. He
further held a total of 18 franchise records at the time that included most
rushing yards in a season (1435). At 6’1” and 225 pounds he had the size to be
a punishing runner between the tackles while also possessing speed and
elusiveness.

Dillon, who played collegiately at the Univ. of
Washington, was originally chosen by the Bengals in the second round of the
1997 NFL draft and came on strong in the second half of his rookie year,
gaining 933 of his 1129 rushing yards and scoring 8 of 10 TDs in the last eight
games, highlighted by a 246-yard, four-touchdown performance in his fifth contest
as a starter. It was the first of six consecutive seasons reaching the
thousand-yard rushing threshold. Along the way Dillon had two more 200-yard
single-game performances, including a then-league record 278 against the
Broncos in 2000.

Dillon began sharing the rushing duties with RB Rudi
Johnson in 2003 and had been pushing for a trade, complaining that he should be
carrying more of the load. Following a season-ending loss to the Browns at Paul
Brown Stadium, Dillon reportedly threw some of his equipment into the stands.
He had further gotten into a public spat with OT Willie Anderson, calling him
“a bum” on a sports radio show after the Pro Bowl tackle accused Dillon of
being selfish at a point when the Bengals were still in playoff contention.

Reportedly, Coach Belichick laid down ground rules to
Dillon prior to the trade being finalized. “We are very excited about Corey
Dillon becoming a Patriot,” the coach said in reaction to the deal being
completed. “Corey joins Kevin Faulk and our other very good backs to deepen an
already competitive running back position.”

The Patriots had won two NFL Championships in the
previous three years, including 2003, without a feature running back in an
offense largely propelled by the passing of QB Tom Brady. Antowain Smith had been
a stalwart, if plodding, ground gainer since arriving in 2001 and shared the
duties with the more versatile Kevin Faulk in ’03, gaining 642 yards to Faulk’s
638, while Faulk caught 48 passes for 440 yards to Smith’s 92 yards on 14
receptions. The arrival of Dillon marked the end of the line in New England for
the 32-year-old Smith.

Any concerns about Dillon and the wisdom of trading for
him were resolved during an outstanding 2004 season. He started strong, with a
15-carry, 86-yard effort in an opening-week win over the Colts and followed
with 158 yards on 32 attempts at Arizona the next week. He had four straight
hundred-yard games as the Patriots got off to a 7-1 start and ended up with a
total of nine such performances over the course of the season. Dillon ended up
with a club-record 1635 rushing yards on 345 carries for an average gain of 4.7
yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He gained another 292 yards in three playoff
games, with 144 coming in a Divisional-level win over the Colts and 75 yards on
18 carries in the Super Bowl victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. Dillon
was chosen to the Pro Bowl for the first time in three years and, moreover,
proved to be a leader who fit well in New England’s team-first approach.

Dillon spent two more seasons with the Patriots, rushing
for lesser totals of 733 and 812 yards, although scoring 12 and 13 TDs,
respectively, in 2005 and ’06. He was hindered by a bad ankle in ’05 and showed
increased signs of wear in 2006, when he began to lose playing time to rookie
Laurence Maroney. Released in the offseason, he ultimately retired.

In his three years in New England, Dillon gained 3180
yards on 753 rushing attempts (4.2 avg.) with 37 TDs. He also caught 52 passes
for 431 yards and another two scores (Kevin Faulk continued to be the preferred
receiver out of the backfield in addition to being a change-of-pace runner). In
eight postseason games, he rushed for 508 yards and four TDs and accumulated 12
pass receptions for 74 yards.

April 18, 2016

Originally a
halfback in college, Dorow shifted to quarterback as a sophomore and guided
Michigan State to a 9-0 record as a senior in 1951. He was chosen by the
Washington Redskins in the third round of the ’52 NFL draft but first had to
fulfill a military commitment before joining the Redskins in 1954. Starting QB
Eddie LeBaron having departed for the CFL, Dorow saw considerable action and
threw for 997 yards and 8 touchdowns, although giving up 17 interceptions. With
the return of LeBaron in ’55, Dorow saw scant action as a reserve but when
LeBaron suffered a knee injury in 1956 he started seven games and played well
enough to earn Pro Bowl recognition. However, an offseason contract dispute
caused Dorow to be traded to Philadelphia where he was little used in ’57 and
he moved on to Canada with Saskatchewan and British Columbia in 1958 and
Toronto in ‘59. Overall in the CFL, Dorow passed for 2363 yards and 17 TDs,
with 35 INTs, and, highly mobile, rushed for 214 yards. With the formation of
the AFL in 1960, Dorow joined the New York Titans and proved to be a good fit
in Head Coach Sammy Baugh’s pass-oriented offense, where he had outstanding
receivers in flanker Don Maynard and split end Art Powell. While not having great arm strength, he was a daring play caller and possessed excellent leadership qualities.

1960 Season Summary

Appeared in
all 14 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 396
[3]

Most
attempts, game – 48 at Oakland 12/11

Completions –
201 [3]

Most
completions, game – 29 at Oakland 12/11

Yards – 2748
[3]

Most yards,
game – 375 at Oakland 12/11

Completion
percentage – 50.8 [4]

Yards per
attempt – 6.9 [3]

TD passes – 26
[1]

Most TD
passes, game – 4 at Dallas 10/2

Interceptions
– 26 [2]

Most
interceptions, game – 4 vs. Houston 10/23

Passer rating
– 67.8 [3]

300-yard
passing games – 2

200-yard
passing games – 7

Rushing

Attempts – 90
[17]

Most
attempts, game – 18 (for 72 yds.) at Buffalo 10/16

Yards – 453
[11]

Most yards,
game – 72 yards (on 18 carries) at Buffalo 10/16

Average gain
– 5.0 [4]

TDs – 7 [4,
tied with Wray Carlton]

Punting

Punts – 6 [12,
tied with Ken Hall]

Yards – 264 [12]

Average – 44.0

Punts blocked
– 0

Longest punt
– 56 yards

Scoring

TDs – 7 [13,
tied with Billy Cannon, Al Carmichael & Dave Smith]

Points – 42

Awards &
Honors:

2nd
team All-AFL: League

Titans went 7-7
to finish second in the AFL Eastern Division while leading the league in
touchdowns (51) and scoring (380 points).

Aftermath:

Dorow
followed up in 1961 by leading the AFL in pass attempts (438) and completions
(197), as well as rushing yards by a quarterback (317) for the second straight
year, but also interceptions thrown (30) as the Titans again went 7-7. He was
selected for the first AFL All-Star Game. Suffering from a sore shoulder, Dorow
was traded to Buffalo and started four games before further damage to his arm ended
his career. Overall in the AFL, Dorow passed for 5732 yards and 47 TDs while
giving up 63 interceptions and rushed for 827 yards and 11 touchdowns. In four
NFL seasons, he threw for 1976 yards and 17 TDs with 39 INTs andran for 323 yards and 5 scores. Dorow was
selected to one Pro Bowl and one AFL All-Star Game. He went into coaching and
was head coach of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1971.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:

April 16, 2016

Carney kicked
51 field goals in college and set a Notre Dame season record with his 89.5
percentage in 1984 (17 of 19). He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the
Cincinnati Bengals in 1987 but failed to make the team and sat out the year.
Carney finished out the last four games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1988,
substituting for the injured Donald Igwebuike, and started the year in ’89,
playing in a total of five games and making good on two of five field goal
attempts and all six of his PAT attempts. After failing to make the Chargers
during the 1990 preseason, he appeared in one game with the Rams and was then
re-signed by San Diego, succeeding on 19 of 21 field goal attempts. Following a
lesser year in ’91, Carney bounced back to play a total of 10 full seasons with
the Chargers. Highlights included hitting on 31 of 40 field goal tries in 1993,
with two games in which he kicked six field goals in as many attempts, and a
1994 season in which he led the NFL with 34 field goals, out of just 38
attempts, as well as totaling a league-leading 135 points. Carney was a
consensus first-team All-NFL choice that year and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Carney departed following the 2000 season as the club’s all-time leader in
field goals (261) and scoring (1076 points). While not strong on kickoffs, and
with concerns about his range, he joined the New Orleans Saints in 2001 and
stayed for six years, providing reliability if not long distance. Carney split
time with the Jaguars and Chiefs in 2007 before moving on to the New York
Giants in ’08 after regular PK Lawrence Tynes was sidelined by injury.

2008 Season Summary

Appeared in 15
of 16 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals –
35 [2, 1st in NFC]

Most field
goals, game – 4 vs. Cincinnati 9/21, at Pittsburgh 10/26, at Minnesota 12/28

Field goal
attempts – 38 [3, tied with Matt Bryant & Rian Lindell]

Most field
goal attempts, game – 5 at Minnesota 12/28

Field goal
percentage – 92.1 [4]

PATs – 38 [17]

PAT attempts
– 38 [17]

Longest field
goal – 51 yards at Minnesota 12/28

Scoring

Field Goals –
35

PATs – 38

Points – 143
[3]

Postseason: 1
G (NFC Divisional playoff vs. Philadelphia)

Field goals –
3

Field goal
attempts – 5

PATs – 0

PAT attempts
– 0

Longest field
goal – 36 yards

Awards & Honors:

2nd
team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Giants went 12-4
to finish first in the NFC East while leading the NFL in rushing yards (2518).
Lost NFC Divisional playoff to Philadelphia Eagles (23-11).

Aftermath:

With the
younger, and stronger-legged, Lawrence Tynes recovered from his injury, Carney’s
contract was not renewed by the Giants and he spent parts of the 2009 and ’10
seasons back with the Saints, finishing his 23-year career at 46 years old.
Overall, Carney kicked 478 field goals in 580 attempts (82.4 %) and added 628
extra points (with 10 misses) for a total of 2062 points. At the time of his
retirement, the field goal and point totals ranked third all-time in NFL
history. He received first-team All-NFL recognition once, second-team honors
twice, and was chosen to two Pro Bowls. Carney was named to the Chargers’ 50th
anniversary all-time team.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:

April 14, 2016

The Orlando Renegades of the United States Football
League were hoping to build off of their first win of the season the previous
week as they played the Arizona Outlaws on April 14, 1985. The Renegades, coached
by Lee Corso, were the relocated Washington Federals, a club that had gone a
combined 7-29 in two USFL seasons, and losing the first six games of their
third campaign promised only more disappointment. QB Reggie Collier (pictured above) was highly
mobile as well as an able passer and WR Joey Walters was a quality receiver.
But the Renegades were held back by having the league’s poorest defense.

Arizona was a combination of the previous year’s Arizona
Wranglers and Oklahoma Outlaws, coached by Frank Kush, formerly of Arizona
State. Veteran QB Doug Williams was a capable passer and also had a good target
in WR Alphonso Williams. The roster contained several holdover veterans from
the Wranglers team that had reached the 1984 USFL title game and the club was
off to a respectable 4-3 start.

There were 32,169 fans in attendance on a hundred-degree
day at Sun Devil Stadium. It was not a promising beginning for the Renegades
when FB William Miller was lost to a knee injury on the opening kickoff. But the
visitors scored first during the opening period after DT Ed McAleney recovered a
fumble by the Outlaws at the Arizona 46. Shortly thereafter, Reggie Collier
rolled to his right and threw long to WR Jackie Flowers for a 38-yard touchdown.
Jeff Brockhaus added the extra point.

Before the first quarter was over, Orlando got another break
when FB Rickey Claitt grabbed a deflected Collier pass and gained 31 yards. On
the next play, RB Curtis Bledsoe, running to his left, went 19 yards for a TD
and Brockhaus again converted.

Down by 14-0, the home team narrowed the score in the
second quarter. A short Arizona punt hit WR Jeff Smith of the Renegades and was
recovered by the Outlaws at the Orlando 13, and two plays later Doug Williams
threw to TE Ron Wheeler, who made a diving catch for an 11-yard touchdown with
five minutes remaining in the first half. Luis Zendejas kicked the point after.
On Arizona’s next possession, Doug Williams connected with Alphonso Williams
for a gain of 45 yards to the Orlando four. But the Renegades held on defense
and the Outlaws settled for a 20-yard Zendejas field goal with the clock down to
34 seconds. The score was 14-10 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Arizona made it a one-point contest
with a Zendejas field goal from 42 yards. However, the Renegades put together a
long drive that covered 81 yards in 12 plays, including passes to Walters for
gains of 33 and 15 yards and culminating in a three-yard scoring run by Claitt.
Brockhaus added the extra point to increase Orlando’s lead to 21-13.

The Outlaws struck back before the period was over as
Doug Williams connected with Alphonso Williams for a 54-yard TD. However, an
attempt to tie the score with a two-point conversion failed. Still, it was a
two-point contest at 21-19 heading into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, the Renegades maintained
possession for 8:45 in a key drive that included carries by Collier of 8 and 14
yards to convert third downs. With 2:08 left on the clock, Jeff Brockhaus
extended Orlando’s lead with a 38-yard field goal. There was still time for the
Outlaws, but they now needed a touchdown to win and, starting from their own 27
following the kickoff, Doug Williams, confronted by an inspired defense, threw
four incomplete passes and the Renegades held on for a 24-19 victory.

The Renegades led in total yards (303 to 231), first
downs (16 to 12), and time of possession (37:11 to 22:49). The Outlaws had
three sacks, to one by Orlando, and the Renegades were penalized 9 times for 60
yards, to six flags for 50 yards thrown on Arizona. Orlando also turned the
ball over twice, to one suffered by the Outlaws.

Reggie Collier completed 12 of 23 passes for 180 yards with
a touchdown and an interception and also ran the ball for 48 yards on 9 carries.
Rickey Claitt rushed for 51 yards on 13 attempts and Curtis Bledsoe contributed
43 yards on 15 carries, each accounting for a TD. Joey Walters led the
Renegades with four catches for 63 yards. On defense, LB Ron Freeman was the
standout as he accumulated 11 tackles, defended two passes, and had a sack.

For the Outlaws, Doug Williams was successful on just 8
of 24 throws for 166 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. Alphonso Williams
had a big performance with four pass receptions for 127 yards and one TD. RB
Reggie Brown gained 70 yards on 15 rushing attempts.

“It was a big win for us, and the defense came up with
some big plays at the end,” said Orlando’s Coach Corso. “The last drive was set
up by Collier and his great athletic ability.”

Having won two straight games, the Renegades returned to
their losing ways for the next three and, while more competitive down the
stretch, finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 5-13 record.
Arizona continued to lose, eventually dropping six straight contests on the way
to ending with an 8-10 tally that placed fourth in the Western Conference.

Reggie Collier continued to impress with his running and
passing, throwing for 2578 yards and 13 touchdowns while giving up 16
interceptions and rushing for 606 yards and 12 TDs.

April 12, 2016

Born without
a right hand and with no toes on his right (kicking) foot, Dempsey seemed an
unlikely football player. Still, he played offensive tackle in high school and defensive
end, in addition to placekicking, at California’s Palomar Junior College. Dempsey
spent 1967 in the Atlantic Coast Football League with the Lowell Giants where
he booted just two field goals but a league-leading 42 extra points and joined
San Diego’s taxi squad in ’68, where a special kicking shoe was designed for
him that would, in time, generate controversy. While capable of kicking for
distance with his size and leg strength, accuracy was a chronic problem.

1969 Season Summary

Appeared in
all 14 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals –
22 [3, tied with Bruce Gossett]

Most field
goals, game – 4 at NY Giants 11/16, vs. Philadelphia 11/30

Field goal
attempts – 41 [1]

Most field
goal attempts, game – 7 vs. Philadelphia 11/30

Field goal
percentage – 53.7 [6]

PATs – 33 [7,
tied with Pete Gogolak, Bob Etter & Lou Michaels]

PAT attempts
– 35 [7]

Longest field
goal – 55 yards at LA Rams 10/5

Scoring

Field Goals –
22

PATs – 33

Points – 99 [5]

Awards & Honors:

1st
team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Saints went 5-9
to finish third in the NFL Capitol Division.

Aftermath:

Dempsey
gained notoriety during a 1970 season in which he kicked a 63-yard game-winning
field goal against Detroit, which exceeded the previous NFL record by seven
yards. He hit on 18 of 34 field goal attempts overall, with three of 50 yards
or more but with three misses inside the 30 and just one of five good between
30 and 39 yards. Dempsey lost out to Skip Butler in the 1971 preseason but
caught on with the Philadelphia Eagles and, active for the last five games, led
the NFL in field goal percentage (70.6) while connecting on 12 of 17
three-pointers, including a then-club record 54-yard kick. He spent three more
seasons with the Eagles and had a six-field goal game in ’72. His most
productive year in Philadelphia was in 1973 when he made good on 24 of 40 field
goal attempts (60.0 %) and 34 extra points with no misses. However, with the
goal posts moved to the back of the end zone in 1974 Dempsey attempted just 16
field goals, was successful on 10 of them, and missed four of his 30 extra
point attempts. He was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 1975 and, while his
field goal percentage rose to 80.8 as he succeeded on 21 of 26 attempts, he
continued to struggle with extra points. Dempsey’s performance slipped in ’76,
his last with the Rams, and he spent time with the Houston Oilers and Buffalo
Bills before his career ended in 1979. Overall in the NFL, he kicked 159 field
goals out of 258 attempts (61.6 %) and added 252 extra points, with 30 misses,
for a total of 729 points. With the Saints, he was 40 of 75 on field goals
(53.3 %) and 49 of 52 on PATs for 169 points. He received his lone Pro Bowl selection
with New Orleans, as well as his greatest fame with the 63-yard field goal that
remained the NFL record until 2013.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories: